No Apologies Round Two"Few if any recent generations could sit with a Bible in one hand and their newspapers in the other and see the fulfillment of prophecy, but for us it’s almost routine." Jack Kelly

Daily Bible Verse

Monday, June 1, 2009

Vigilantism is bad no matter who it's against

Yesterday, I saw a headline on AOL news about an abortion doctor's murder. I didn't bother to read it, figuring I would hear more later. Hear I did, and found out it was George Tiller. I was shocked, but not surprised, saddened- but in a different way, and I immediately lifted up his family and the family of the responsible party in prayer.

I was shocked because after all the news during the past few years about Tiller, it seemed the guy was untouchable. After all, he had escaped justice over and over again through the court cases and grand juries against him. Then Gov. of Kansas- Kathleen Silibius (now the Secretary of Health and Human Services) did all she could to squash any efforts by prosecutor Phil Kline to bring this abortionist known to most, as Tiller the Killer, to justice for performing illegal late term abortions- also known as partial birth abortions.

I was not surprised however, as people such as Tiller, while not deserving to die by some vigilante's means- they do a "service" which in the views of more than half this country- is wrong, and is murder.

Through the course of all means to shut down George Tiller (both lawful and those unlawful), he was never stopped. No one in the pro life groups that I know is cheering that this man is dead. Those of us, which make up almost the whole of the pro life movement, know that the man who killed Tiller has only brought more slander and injustice to those of us are against abortion. Especially touching- is the fact that the man was in church when he was murdered.

Whether Tiller was a true Christian or not, and whether the church he attended was a Bible believing Church or not- it was so very wrong. It was wrong in the eyes of the law, and in the view of God's Law- thou shall not murder.

Yes, George Tiller was a murderer as well. I don't ever hear the pro abortion side crying over the thousands of innocent babies, who by the actions of Tiller- as well as thousands of other "doctors" who were tortured by having a pair of scissors shoved into the backs of their skulls and their brains sucked out. I don't hear them crying for those babies who squirm and writhe in pain from burning saline solutions injected into the womb of the "mother". Or those who are born alive- burned, and alive- only to be thrown in a trash can and left to die.

Yes- in the view of God, abortionists are murderers. That said, there is no excuse for someone to take justice into their own hands. God says Judgement belongs to Him. If we can not find justice through changing hearts, through the legal system and whatever other legal course we can- we will only TRUST in the LORD that He will do as He sees fit. It is not up to us to be judge, jury and executioner. That is murder- no worse, no better, no different than the abortionists.

All this did was shine a spotlight on the "fringe" group which is a fraction of a percent of the pro life movement. All this did was push back any kind of progress the peaceful, God loving, child loving pro life people had made. All this has done is take the spotlight off the fact that millions of babies- many of which would be perfectly capable of living outside the womb- are being slaughtered- tortured and sacrificed in the name of "family planning", "reproductive rights" and feminist rights.

For Christian pro lifers, we need to remember that God knows exactly what is happening to these innocents. He was aware of Tiller's hypocrisy of attending church on Sundays, while murdering children Monday through Friday. We need to continue to pray for the abortionists- that their hearts will change, and they will see the carnage they have done in the name of "rights". We need to show love and compassion to women who think there are no other choices available to them. We need to help women who are going through, thinking of going through or have gone through an abortion. We need to change hearts through showing Christ's love.

We may not understand all the reasons that people like George Tiller are able to get away with legalized murder for years, but it is not up to us to play God.

The shooter may have though he was carrying out justice, and doing the Lord's work- he was not.

8 comments:

HI CAROLYN, I PRAY GOD WILL FORGIVE ME FOR NOT SHEDDING TEARS WITH THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF TILLER THE INNOCENT BABY KILLER. HOWEVER, TEARS COME EASY BECAUSE OF BABIES KILLED WHILE BEING BORN. I PRAY GOD CORRECT THE EVIL. CAROLYN, I'M SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF GOD IN OLD BIBLE DAYS USING PEOPLE TO KILL OTHER PEOPLE. DO YOU THINK GOD WAS WRONG ? GOD CAN WORK IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS.PEOPLE WHOM GRIEVE OVER THE DEATH OF TILLER ARE PROBABLY ONES THAT CONDONED HIS ACTIONS. I CANNOT HAVE A KIND ATTITUDE TOWARDS BABY KILLERS. I PRAY FOR GOD TO PUNISH BABY KILLERS ACCORDING TO HIS WILL. NOT MY WILL. WE KNOW THAT GOD IS ALL POWERFUL AND WILL DO AS HE WILLS. sam

I came here as directed by Mary (hunyb4him) and I am glad I came as I think this is a very well reasoned discussion of this sad event. I am so impressed I am going to put your blog on my blog list so I can follow your entries. I have been an abortion protester since '73, focused mainly on what I consider propaganda printed for years in newspapers, magazines, etc. I had plenty of work to do just protesting what was published in my town newspaper, the Arizona Republic. I recall a case that figured in the headlines because she was taken to Kansas for a late term abortion from this man. She may have been in custody, I am not sure of the details now. I found out too late that my 15 year old son and his girlfriend had been able to get an abortion without informing parents, so I could not try to help save the chiild. Planned Parenthood has fought people try to pass laws requiring parents to be informed of teens intent to get an abortion over and over. Bryan Howard openly stated in the Arizona Republic that all teens who get pregnant should have an abortion and shouldnot have to inform parents because they might be zealots who would fight an abortion! Many sad things happen in families because of abortion. I have also written in my blog on this murder, difficult to do. Gerry

Well said. God does work in mysterious ways, does He not? I don't think Tiller and those like him should be allowed to practice their abomination, but the sad fact is it's legal in our country. Vigilantism isn't.

Using a crime to fight a criminal, especially to take capital punishment in one's own hands, isn't right.

I remember David's story, how he wept for Saul--and after all the times Saul would try to kill him! David left it for the Lord's hand to deliver the final justice: he couldn't bring himself to become a vigilante.

It isn't our place: God has placed law-enforcers over us. We have to go through the system, however frustrating it may seem.

Ultimately, we need to leave room for God's vengeance.

So: well said, though I couldn't write the piece, I'm so appalled at what Tiller did for a living--and then the hypocrisy of going to church?

Did you know he would baptize these unborn babies for those requesting such services? That news stabbed my heart.